How the LCCP changes impact on your business

In August 2014, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) launched a review focused on improving the social responsibility provisions of the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). The February 2015 (updated April 2015) version of the LCCP came into force on Friday, 8 May 2015. The revised LCCP can be accessed here.

How the changes might affect your business

The key changes include:

Customers must be notified of material changes to terms (as opposed to allchanges), before they come into effect – the UKGC has advised operators to err on the side of caution if in doubt when interpreting which of their terms should be considered material

All remote gambling operators must notify the UKGC when a group company (which is not licensed by the UKGC) begins advertising remote gambling facilities to those residing in a jurisdiction in or to which it has not previously advertised

All licensees must make an annual contribution to one or more organisations which research into the prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm, develop harm prevention approaches and identify and fund treatment to those harmed

Most licensees’ policies must include specific provision for making use of all relevant sources of information to ensure effective customer interactions and interacting with customers demonstrating signs of distress, agitation, aggression etc.

When administering self-exclusion procedures, all remote operators must signpost the individual to counselling and support services

All licensees must ensure that marketing, advertising and invitations to purchase, including “free-bet” offers, are not misleading and abide by any relevant provision of the CAP or BCAP code which relates to ‘free bet’, ‘bonus’ or similar offers

Terms and conditions of each marketing incentive must be made available for the full duration of the promotion